From the desk of Dr. Mark Pirtle.
Embrace wholeness by acknowledging all parts of yourself, including the shadow. Use shadow work to discover, heal, and transform towards a more authentic life.
Thanksgiving can bring up old stories and emotional triggers, but it’s also a chance to practice mindfulness and patience. Shadow work encourages attunement to yourself and others, especially in uncomfortable moments. Use family dynamics as opportunities for self-reflection, wakefulness, and gratitude for your personal growth and the family that shaped you.
Most suffering stems from the unchecked stories our minds create. Shadow work and meditation reveal these subconscious narratives, allowing us to question their validity and release their hold on us. By shifting our perspective and embracing self-awareness, we can transform fear, anger, and impatience into clarity and contentment.
A restless night became a powerful lesson in mindfulness and shadow work. By observing emotions and thoughts without attaching to their stories, Mark found peace and clarity despite the lack of sleep. Discover how skillful awareness can help you navigate discomfort, integrate your shadow, and cultivate inner contentment.
Shadow work shines a light on our unconscious patterns, helping us grow through self-awareness and reflection. This week, explore your own shadow using a simple mindfulness practice to notice your habitual energies—Push, Pull, Stop, or Neutral. Learn how understanding your Shadow Self can lead to profound transformation.
Mark shares a personal and poignant story about his cat Ramses, whose untreated minor injury escalated into a severe issue requiring amputation. This cautionary tale highlights the importance of addressing small problems—whether in health, relationships, or personal growth—before they spiral out of control. Mark invites readers to reflect on their own lives and take proactive steps toward resolution, offering a space for shared stories and support.
In this reflective essay, Mark shares insights from a coaching session with a client who excels in golf, business, and mentorship. A fable comparing the journeys of a monk, a golfer, and an entrepreneur highlights shared principles of mastery: motivation, intention, awareness, and focus. Mark extends an invitation to his upcoming plant medicine retreat for those ready to align personal and professional growth with mindfulness and self-discovery.
In this heartfelt essay, Mark explores the universal resistance to hard tasks and shares the secret to overcoming it: embracing challenges willingly. Reflecting on experiences with clients and his daughter, Mark explains how dropping resistance and saying "yes" to responsibilities can lead to immediate happiness and long-term growth. He invites readers to share their experiences and consider joining his November plant medicine retreat for deeper self-discovery.
Mark shares his personal journey from material-driven success and devastating collapse to inner healing and growth through shadow work and mindfulness. After losing his business and health due to unresolved traumas, Mark found transformation at a Tibetan Buddhist Monastery. Today, he offers guidance to those seeking meaning and healing in the face of life’s challenges, inviting readers to explore shadow work and mindfulness as pathways to resilience.
In The Spiritual Life: Choosing the Path Less Traveled, Mark reflects on the universal longing for deeper meaning and spiritual connection, transcending material success. By exploring shadow work and inner transformation, Mark invites readers to embark on a spiritual journey, offering guidance through coaching and his November 21-24 plant medicine retreat as a catalyst for profound personal growth and alignment with authentic intentions.
This post explores emerging scientific evidence supporting the role of psychedelics in promoting health behavior change. Mark shares resources for those interested in transformative plant medicine journeys and invites readers to explore the connection between psychedelics, healing, and self-growth.
Discover the profound connection between lucid dreaming and plant medicine journeys. Through a vivid personal story, Mark shares how both practices allow access to the subconscious mind, unlocking insights and healing potential. Learn how facing shadow conflicts in dreams mirrors the transformational power of plant medicine retreats, helping participants release emotional burdens and reclaim their sense of strength and clarity.
This essay delves into the profound insights gained from the Change Your Story, Change Your Life retreat series. It explains Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS) and shadow work, highlighting their unique methodologies and complementary roles in fostering self-discovery and transformation. Structured into five sections, it provides an overview of IFS, practical applications within the retreat, and the importance of shadow work for breaking self-limiting patterns. If you’re ready to explore these powerful tools for personal change, learn more about the year-long, four-retreat series currently accepting applications for next year.
